‘Whatever You Do, Don’t Debate Trump,’ Democratic Strategists Advise Biden

Aug. 2, 2020 (EIRNS)—Numerous Democratic Party strategists are giving Joe Biden some blunt advice: “Whatever you do, don’t debate Trump.” For example, former White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart in the Clinton Administration, speaking on CNN yesterday, warned: “Giving him [Trump] that national forum to continue to spout—get him to 21,000 or 22,000 lies—I think just isn’t worth it for the Democrats or for Biden.” Newsweek reported that longtime Democratic strategist and former Hillary Clinton senior adviser Zac Petkanas agreed with Lockhart. “Biden shouldn’t feel obligated to throw Trump a lifeline by granting him any debates at all. This is not a normal presidential election and Trump is not a legitimate candidate.” One wonders what in the world Petkanas means by “legitimate candidate.”

As of now, three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate are scheduled between Sept. 29 and Oct. 22, with the first presidential debate scheduled for Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland on Sept. 29.